Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has told the U.S. DOJ in recent interview that she never witnessed President Donald Trump engaging in any criminal or inappropriate behavior during the time she knew him, according to a report from ABC News citing unnamed sources.
The British socialite and longtime associate of deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein met for a lengthy nine-hour interview late last month with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who also previously served as one of Trump’s defense attorneys.
Despite widespread speculation about Maxwell potentially providing damning information on high-profile individuals, sources say she offered no statements that could damage Trump’s reputation.
This revelation has raised new questions about Maxwell’s motivations and the broader implications of her cooperation with the Justice Department — including whether a presidential pardon may be on the horizon.
According to her attorney David Oscar Markus, Maxwell was open and candid during the interview, reportedly answering questions about “around 100 different people” as part of her effort to negotiate some form of cooperation with federal authorities. The meeting with Blanche was part of that process, although Markus insisted there were no promises or explicit deals in exchange for her participation.
“The deputy attorney general is seeking the truth,” Markus told reporters after the meeting. “He asked every possible question, and he was doing an amazing job.”
Markus emphasized that no deal had been struck — yet he did not dismiss the possibility that Trump could intervene.
“Listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so,” Markus added, referring to the presidential authority to issue pardons. “We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way.”
President Trump has consistently denied any involvement in or knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. While Trump and Epstein were known to have socialized in the 1990s and early 2000s — with a now-infamous photograph showing Trump, Melania Knauss (his then-girlfriend and future wife), Epstein, and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 — Trump has long claimed that their friendship soured years ago and that he cut ties with Epstein well before the financier’s 2019 arrest.
Maxwell’s statement to the DOJ — specifically her claim that she never saw Trump do anything questionable — appears to support the president’s narrative and may further distance him from the Epstein scandal as the 2024 election aftermath continues to reverberate through Washington.
Shortly after her sit-down with the DOJ, Maxwell was quietly transferred to a minimum-security federal prison in Texas, known informally as a “Club Fed” due to its more relaxed environment and better conditions compared to most federal lockups. She had previously been serving her 20-year sentence for facilitating Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls at a tougher facility.
The Justice Department has not explained the reasoning behind the transfer, and the timing — following her cooperative meeting with federal prosecutors — has fueled speculation that some form of leniency or favor is being extended, possibly as a precursor to more significant actions.
Critics argue that such a move, especially for a high-profile convict like Maxwell, raises serious questions about equal justice under the law. Others suggest it could be a strategic effort by the DOJ to incentivize deeper cooperation as Maxwell continues to reveal what she knows about Epstein’s network.
As of now, there is no formal indication that President Trump is actively considering a pardon for Maxwell. However, with her legal team expressing hope and Trump acknowledging his power to do so, the possibility remains on the table.
Maxwell’s ongoing cooperation and her silence on Trump’s past behavior may be part of a larger play to secure her early release or even clemency — but any such move is bound to be controversial and closely watched by both Trump’s critics and supporters.